This species gets its name from unique look – clown triggerfish have black bellies with large white spots and bright yellow lips!

Clown triggerfish are normally shy and solitary, but they can be very aggressive. Some may charge or attack intruders. When hiding from predators, triggerfish lock themselves into small openings with their trigger fin and bite down on the coral or rock to ensure their safety.

These fish can be found in many areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans such as Africa, Indonesia, Samoa, Japan, and New Caledonia.

We have a whole colony of strawberry anemones now on exhibit in our Surviving Through Adaptation gallery!

Did you know? These animals only grow to be about an inch wide! Like many other species of anemone, their tentacles are equipped with a potent poison which can stun prey/predators.

Strawberry anemones reproduce by splitting themselves into two identical copies, in a process known as fission. Along the ragged coast of the Pacific Ocean, you can see many rocks and ledges covered in these pink anemones!

Spotfin Butterflyfish in Lurking Gallery

A group of spotfin butterflyfish (originally from our DC location) has been added to our Lurking gallery.

Did you know? The black bar across this fish’s eye confuses predators.

This species is found in the Western Atlantic, from the east coast of the United States to Brazil.

The bird wrasse (Gomphosus varius) is reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific. This species, also known as the birdfish or green birdmouth wrasse, is easily recognized by its elongated, snout-like mouth, which it only grows as it reaches adulthood.

Bird wrasse fish prefer to make their homes in the lagoon and/or seaward areas within coral reef habitats.